Zelko Bistro losing its home in the Heights

Zelko Bisto, the Heights restaurant that chef/owner Jamie Zelko opened in April 2010, will be looking for a new home.

A lease sign was spotted in front of the 705 E. 11th St. restaurant this morning (as originally reported by The Heights Life). According to Realtor Mike Huff of Berkshire Hathaway, representing the property owner, the building is for lease. He said his clients have been “working very hard over the last six months to extend the lease” to the restaurant but that “there’s been a total breakdown in communications in the last 60 days.”

Huff said he has been “flooded” by offers from restaurants in and out of the Heights to move into the 1920s bungalow. “If we wanted to sign a lease today we could,” he said.

He added that the owners, who live and reside in the Heights, also own the adjacent vintage gas station. One prospective lessee, described as a well-known Heights businessman, has proposed to lease both the restaurant and gas station and open two separate businesses: a restaurant in Zelko and wine bar in the empty gas station.

A call to Zelko was not returned.

Later Tuesday afternoon Zelko Bistro posted this on its Facebook page:

“NOTHING HAS CHANGED! Dear Clients, Friends and Neighbors: We Look Forward To Continue Business here, in Houston Heights Bungalow!
ZELKO BISTRO is Open for Lunch, Dinner and Brunch on weekend! Regular Business Hours, Full Staff and Heights Bees ALL here and working hard to serve you!
See you at the bistro,
Jamie Zelko
Owner/ Executive. Chef”